Eight militants were killed across Jammu and Kashmir [Images] in three different gunfights between security forces and militants Wednesday.

Security forces comprising counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and state police carried out a cordon and search operation in the Katha-di-Dhok village in the hilly Udhampur district of Jammu region in the morning.

"As the security forces were carrying out searches, an encounter took place, which lasted for several hours at the end of which four militants of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit were killed," a police spokesman here said.

He said a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Troops of 2-Para regiment of the army and special operations group (SOG) of the police carried out a joint anti-militant operation in the forest area of Putshahi village of north Kashmir Kupwara district, during which another three unidentified militants were killed.

"We got specific information about the movement of militants in the forest area, upon which an operation was launched," a police spokesman said.

The spokesman said one militant was killed by security forces in Gandoh village in the hilly Doda district today in another cordon and search operation.

"One AK-47 rifle, one magazine was recovered from the possession of the slain militant."